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THE SAILING OF 
THE LONG-SHIPS 



Cfje ^atlttig of ti)e ilons- 



BY 

HENRY NEWBOLT 




3 



NEW YORK 

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 

1902 



.Wif Ayr 



I I , I .1 1 I al U »!■ n II I»|M 

THF tJP.PAav OP 
CONGRESS, 

C«-A8«A. YXo No. 
COPY 8. 



J 



Copyright, 1902 
By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 



Published November, 1902 



c * 



TO 

SIR EDWARD GREY 



CONTENTS 



The Sailing of the Long- 


Ships 


5 


PAGE 

9 


Wagon Hill .... 


. 12 


The Volunteer . 






. 14 


The Only Son . 






. 15 


The Grenadier's Good-by . 






17 


The Schoolfellow 






18 


On Spion Kop 






. 19 


The School at War . 






. 20 


By the Hearthstone 






. 22 


Peace .... 






. 23 


Commemoration . 






. 24 


Victoria Regina . 






. 27 


The King of England 






. 28 


The Nile .... 






. SI 


Srahmandazi 






. 35 


Outward Bound . 






. 39 


Hope the Horn-blower 






40 


7 









8 CONTENTS 


• 


PAGE 


O PULCHRITUDO . 


■ 1 


42 


In July .... 


• < 


43 


From Generation to Generation 


44 


When I Remember 




45 


Rondel .... 




47 


Rondel .... 




48 


Balade . . . > . 




. 49 


The Viking's Song . , 




. 51 


The Sufi in the City 




52 


Yattendon .... 




55 


Among the Tombs 




, 5Q 


A Sower .... 




57 


The Best School of All . 




58 


The Bright " Medusa " 




. 61 


Northumberland 




64 


Master and Man 




. 66 



THE SAILING OF THE 
LONG-SHIPS 

October, 1899 

They saw the cables loosened, they saw the 

gangways cleared, 
They heard the women weeping, they heard 

the men that cheered; 
Far ofF, far off, the tumult faded and died 

away. 
And all alone the sea-wind came singing up 

the Bay. 

" I came by Cape St. Vincent, I came by 
Trafalgar, 

I swept from Torres Vedras to golden Vigo 
Bar, 

I saw the beacons blazing that fired the world 
with light 

When down their ancient highway your fa- 
thers passed to fight. 

9 



10 THE SAILING OF . 

" O race of tireless fighters^ flushed with a 

youth renewed^ 
Right well the wars of Freedom befit the 

Sea-kings' brood; 
Yet as ye go forget not the fame of yonder 

shore^ 
The fame ye owe your fathers and the old 

time before. 



*' Long-suffering were the Sea-kings^ they 

were not swift to kill, 
But when the sands had fallen they waited 

no man's will; 
Though all the world forbade them, they 

counted not nor cared, 
They weighed not help or hindrance, they 

did the thing they dared. 



*' The Sea-kings loved not boasting, they 

cursed not him that cursed. 
They honored all men duly, and him that 

faced them, iirst; 



THE LONG-SHIPS 11 

They strove and knew not hatred^ they 

smote and toiled to save. 
They tended wliom they vanquished_, they 

praised the fallen brave. 



" Their fame's on Torres Vedras, their 
fame's on Vigo Bar, 

Far-flashed to Cape St. Vincent it burns 
from Trafalgar; 

Mark as ye go the beacons that woke the 
world with light 

When down their ancient highway your fa- 
thers passed to fight." 



WAGON HILL 

Drake in the North Sea grimly prowling. 

Treading his dear Revenge's deck, 
Watched, with the sea-dogs round him growl- 
ing, 
Galleons drifting wreck by wreck. 
" Fetter and Faith for England's neck. 
Fagot and Father, Saint and chain, — 
Yonder the Devil and all go howling, 
Devon, O Devon, in wind and rain ! " 

Drake at the last off Nombre lying. 

Knowing the night that toward him 
crept. 
Gave to the sea-dogs romid him crying 
This for a sign before he slept: — 
" Pride of the West ! What Devon hath 
kept 

12 



WAGON HILL IS 

Devon shall keep on tide or main; 
Call to the storm and drive them flying, 
Devon, O Devon, in wind and rain ! " 

Valor of England, gamit and whitening. 

Far in a South land brought to bay. 
Locked in a death-grip all day tightening. 
Waited the end in twilight gray. 
Battle and storm and the sea-dog's way! 
Drake from his long rest turned again. 
Victory lit thy steel with lightning, 
Devon, O Devon, in wind and rain ! 



THE VOLUNTEER 

" He leapt to arms unbidden^ 

Unneededj overbold; 
His face by earth is hidden, 

His heart in earth is cold. 

" Curse on the reckless daring 
That could not wait the call. 

The proud fantastic bearing 
That would be first to fall ! " 

O tears of human passion. 
Blur not the image true; 

This was not folly's fashion, 
This was the man we knew. 



14 



THE ONLY SON 

O BITTER wind toward the sunset blowing, 

What of the dales to-night? 
In yonder gray old hall what fires are glow- 
ing. 

What ring of festal light? 

'' In the great window as the day was dwin- 
dling 

1 saw an old man stand; 

His head was proudly held and his eyes 
kindling. 
But the list shook iji his hand." 

O wind of twilight, was there no word ut- 
tered. 
No sound of joy or wail? 
" ' A great fight and a good death/ he mut- 
tered; 
" Trust him, he would not faiV 

2 15 



X' '7 > »» 



16 THE ONLY SON 

What of the chamber dark where she was 
lying 
For whom all life is done? 
" Within her heart she rocks a dead child, 
crying 
' My son, my little son.' " 



THE GRENADIER'S 
GOOD-BY 

" When Lieutenant Murray fell, the only words 
he spoke were, ' Forward, Grenadiers ! ' ''—Press 
Telegram. 

Here they halted, here once more 

Hand from hand was rent; 
Here his voice above the roar 

Rang, and on they went. 
Yonder out of sight they crossed, 

Yonder died the cheers; 
One word lives where all is lost — 

" Forward, Grenadiers ! " 

This alone he asked of fame, 

This alone of pride; 
Still with this he faced the flame. 

Answered Death, and died. 
Crest of battle sunward tossed, 

Song of the marching years. 
This shall live though all be lost — 

" Forward, Grenadiers ! " 
17 



THE SCHOOLFELLOW 

Our game was his but yesteryear; 

We wished him back^ we could not know 
The selfsame hour we missed him here 

He led the line that broke the foe. 

Blood-red behind our guarded posts 

Sank as of old the dying day; 
The battle ceased; the mingled hosts 

Weary and cheery went their way: 

" To-morrow well may bring/' we said, 
" As fair a fight, as clear a sun." 

Dear lad, before the word was sped. 
For evermore thy goal was won. 



18 



ON SPION KOP 

Foremost of all on battle's fiery steep 
Here Vertue ^ fell, and here he sleeps his 

sleep. 
A fairer name no Roman ever gave 
To stand sole monument on Valor's grave. 



^ Major N, H. Vertue, of the Buffs, Brigade-Major 
to General Woodgate, was buried where he fell, on 
the edge of Spion Kop, in front of the British position. 

19 



THE SCHOOL AT WAR 

All night before the brink of death 

In fitful sleep the army lay^ 
For through the dream that stilled their 
breath 

Too gauntly glared the coming day. 

But we^ within whose blood there leaps 

The fulness of a life as wide 
As Avon's water where he sweeps 

Seaward at last with Severn's tide. 

We heard beyond the desert night 
The murmur of the fields we knew, 

And our swift souls with one delight 
Like homina: swallows Northward flew. 



'» 



We played again the immortal games. 
And grappled with the fierce old friends, 

20 



THE SCHOOL AT WAR 21 

And cheered the dead undying names. 
And sang the song that never ends; 

Till, when the hard, familiar bell 

Told that the summer night was late. 

Where long ago we said farewell 
We said farewell by the old gate. 

" O Captains rmforgot," they cried, 
** Come you again or come no more. 

Across the world you keep the pride. 
Across the world we mark the score." 



BY THE HEARTHSTONE 

By the hearthstone 
She sits alone_, 

The long night bearing: 
With eyes that gleam 
Into the dream 

Of the firelight staring. 

Low and more low 
The dying glow 

Burns in the embers; 
She nothing heeds 
And nothing needs — 

Only remembers. 



22 



PEACE 

No more to watch by Night's eternal shore. 
With England's chivalry at dawn to ride; 

No more defeat, faith, victory — O! no more 
A cause on earth for which we might have 
died. 



2S 



COMMEMORATION 

I SAT by the granite pillar^ and sunlight fell 

Where the sunlight fell of old^ 
And the hour was the hour my heart remem- 
bered well^ 
And the sermon rolled and rolled 
As it used to roll when the place was still 

unhaunted^ 
And the strangest tale in the world was still 
untold. 

And I knew that of all this rushing of urgent 
sound 
That I so clearly heard. 
The green young forest of saplings clustered 
round 
Was heeding not one word: 
Their heads were bowed in a still serried 

patience 
Such as an angel's breath could never have 
stirred. 

24 



COMMEMORATION 25 

For some were already away to the hazard- 
ous piteh_, 
Or lining the parapet wall. 
And some were in glorious battle, or great 
and rich. 
Or throned in a college hall: 
And among the rest was one like my own 

young phantom. 
Dreaming for ever beyond my utmost call. 

" O Youth," the preacher was crying, " deem 
not thou 
Thy life is thine alone; 
Thou bearest the will of the ages, seeing how 

They built thee bone by bone. 
And within thy blood the Great Age sleeps 

sepulchered 
Till thou and thine shall roll away the stone. 

" Therefore the days are coming when thou 
shalt burn 
With passion whitely hot; 
Rest shall be rest no more; thy feet shall 
spurn 
All that thy hand hath got; 



26 COMMEMORATION. 

And One that is stronger shall gird thee, and 

lead thee swiftly 
Whither, O heart of Youth, thou wouldest 

not." 

And the School passed; and I saw the living 
and dead 
Set in their seats again, 
And I longed to hear them speak of the word 
that was said, 
But I knew that I longed in vain. 
And they stretched forth their hands, and the 
wind of the spirit took them 
Lightly as drifted leaves on an endless 
plain. 



VICTORIA REGINA 

June 21st, 1897^ 

A THOUSAND years by sea and land 
Our race hath served the island kings. 

But not by custom's dull command 
To-day with song her Empire rings: 

Not all the glories of her birth. 

Her armed renown and ancient throne. 

Could make her less the child of earth 
Or give her hopes beyond our own: 

But stayed on faith more sternly proved 
And pride than ours more pure and deep, 

She loves the land our fathers loved 

And keeps the fame our sons shall keep. 

^ These lines, with music by Doctor Lloyd, formed 
part of the Cycle of Song oifered to Queen Victoria, 
of blessed and glorious memory, in celebration of her 
second Jubilee. 

27 



THE KING OF ENGLAND 

June 24th, 1902 

In that eclipse of noon when joy was hushed 
Like the birds' song beneath unnatural 
night, 
And Terror's footfall in the darkness crushed 

The rose imperial of our delight, 
Then, even then, though no man cried " He 
comes," 
And no man turned to greet him passing 
there. 
With phantom heralds challenging re- 
nown 
And silent-throbbing drums 
I saw the King of England, hale and fair, 
Ride out with a great train through Lon- 
don town. 

28 



THE KING OF ENGLAND 29 

Unarmed he rode^ but in his ruddy shield 

The lions bore the dint of many a lance. 
And up and down his mantle's azure field 
Were strewn the lilies plucked in famous 
France. 
Before him went with banner floating wide 
The yeoman breed that served his honor 
best, 
And mixed with these his knights of 
noble blood; 
But in the place of pride 
His admirals in billowy lines abreast 
Convoyed him close like galleons on the 
flood. 

Full of a strength unbroken showed his face 
And his brow calm with j^^outh's unclouded 
dawn. 
But round his lips were lines of tenderer 
grace 
Such as no hand but Time's hath ever 
drawn. 
Surely he knew his glory had no part 

In dull decaj'-, nor unto Death must bend. 



30 THE KING OF ENGLAND 

Yet surely too of lengthening shadows 
dreamed 
With sunset in his hearty 
So brief his beauty now^ so near the end^ 
And now so old and so immortal seemed. 

O King among the living, these shall hail 

Sons of thy dust that shall inherit thee: 
O King of men that die, though we must fail 
Thy life is breathed from thy triumphant 
sea. 
O man that servest men by right of birth, 
Our hearts' content thy heart shall also 
keep, 
Thou too with us shalt one day lay thee 
down 
In our dear native earth. 
Full sure the King of England, while we 
sleep. 
For ever rides abroad through London 
town. 



THE NILE 

Out of the unknown South, 
Through the dark lands of drouth. 

Far wanders ancient Nile in slumber glid- 
ing: 
Clear-mirrored in his dream 
The deeds that haunt his stream 

Flash out and fade like stars in midnight 
sliding. 
Long since, before the life of man 

Rose from among the lives that creep. 
With Time's own tide began 
That still mysterious sleep. 
Only to cease when Time shall reach the 
eternal deep. 

From out his vision vast 
The early gods have passed, 
3 31 



32 THE NILE 

They waned and perished with the faith 
that made them; 
The long phantasmal line 
Of Pharaohs crowned divine 

Are dust among the dust that once obeyed 
them. 
Their land is one mute burial mound^ 

Save when across the drifted years 
Some chant of hollow sound. 
Some triumph blent with tears. 
From Memnon's lips at dawn wakens the 
desert meres. 

O Nile, and can it be 

No memory dwells with thee 

Of Grecian lore and the sweet Grecian 
singer ? 
The legions' iron tramp. 
The Goths' wide-wandering camp. 

Had these no fame that by thy shore 
might linger.^ 
Nay, then must all be lost indeed. 

Lost too the swift pursuing might 
That cleft with j)assionate speed 



THE NILE S3 

Aboukir's tranquil night. 
And shattered in mid-swoop the great 
world-eagle's flight. 

Yet have there been on earth 
Spirits of starry birth. 

Whose splendor rushed to no eternal set- 
ting: 
They over all endure, 
Their course through all is sure. 

The dark world's light is still of their be- 
getting. 
Though the long past forgotten lies, 

Nile ! in thy dream remember him. 
Whose like no more shall rise 
Above our twilight's rim. 
Until the immortal dawn shall make all 
glories dim. 

For this man was not great 
By gold or kingly state. 

Or the bright sword, or knowledge of 
earth's wonder; 



g4 THE NILE 

But more than all his race 
He saw life face to face_, 

And heard the still small voice above the 
thunder. 
O river, while thy waters roll 

By yonder vast deserted tomb. 
There, where so clear a soul 

So shone through gathering doom. 

Thou and thy land shall keep the tale of 
lost Khartoum. 



SRAHMANDAZI ' 

Deep embowered beside the forest river. 
Where the flame of smiset only falls, 

Lapped in silence lies the House of Dying, 
House of them to whom the twilight calls. 

There within when day was near to ending, 
By her lord a woman young and strong. 

By his chief a songman old and stricken 
Watched together till the hour of song. 

" O my songman, now the bow is broken. 

Now the arrows one by one are sped. 
Sing to me the song of Srahmandazi, 
Srahmandazi, home of all the dead." 

?> 1 This ballad is founded on materials given to the 
author by the late Miss Mary Kingsley on her return 
from her last visit to the Bantu peoples of West 
Africa. 

35 



S6 SRAHMANDAZI 

Then the songman, flinging wide his songnet, 
On the last token laid his master's hand, 

While he sang the song of Srahmandazi 
None but dying men can understand. 

" Yonder sun that fierce and flery-hearted 
Marches down the sky to vanish soon. 

At the selfsame hour in Srahmandazi 
Rises pallid like the rainy moon. 

" There he sees the heroes by their river, 
Where the great fish daily upward swim; 

Yet they are but shadows hunting shadows. 
Phantom fish in waters drear and dim. 

" There he sees the kings among their head- 
men. 

Women weaving, children playing games; 
Yet they are but shadows ruling shadows. 

Phantom folk with dim forgotten names. 

" Bid farewell to all that most thou lovest, 
Tell thy heart thy living life is done; 

All the days and deeds of Srahmandazi 
Are not worth an hour of yonder sun." 



SRAHMANDAZI 37 

Dreamily the chief from out the songnet 
Drew his hand and touched the woman's 
head : 

" Know they not, then_, love in Srahmandazi? 
Has a king no bride among the dead? " 

Then the songman answered, " O my master. 
Love they know, but none may learn it 
there ; 
Only souls that reach that land together 
Keep their troth and iind the twilight 
fair. 

" Thou art still a king, and at thy passing 
By thy latest word must all abide: 

If thou wiliest, here am I, thy songman; 
If thou lovest, here is she, thy bride.'* 

Hushed and dreamy lay the House of Dy- 
ing, 
Dreamily the sunlight upward failed, 
Dreamily the chief on eyes that loved him 
Looked with eyes the coming twilight 
veiled. 



S8 SRAHMANDAZI 

Then he cried, " My songman, I am passing; 

Let her live_, her life is but begun; 
All the days and nights of Srahmandazi 

Are not worth an hour of yonder sun." 

Yet, when there within the House of Dying 
The last silence held the sunset air, 

Not alone he came to Srahmandazi, 
Not alone she found the twilight fair: 

While the songman, far beneath the forest 
Sang of Srahmandazi all night through, 

" Lovely be thy name, O Land of shadows, 
Land of meeting, Land of all the true ! '* 



OUTWARD BOUND 

Dear Earthy near Earthy the clay that made 
us men. 
The land we sowed, 
The hearth that glowed — 

O Mother, must we bid farewell to 
thee ? 
Fast dawns the last dawn, and what shall 
comfort then 
The lonely hearts that roam the outer 
sea? 

Gray wakes the daybreak, the shivering sails 
are set. 
To misty deeps 
The channel sweeps — 

O Mother, think on us who think on 
thee ! 
Earth-home, birth-home, with love remember 
yet 
The sons in exile on the eternal sea. 
39 



HOPE THE HORN-BLOWER 

" Hark ye^ hark to the winding horn; 
Sluggards, awake, and front the morn ! 
Hark je, hark to the winding horn; 

The sun's on meadow and mill. 
Follow me, hearts that love the chase; 
Follow me, feet that keep the pace: 
Stirrup to stirrup we ride, we ride. 

We ride by moor and hill." 

Huntsman, huntsman, whither away? 
What is the quarry afoot to-day.^ 
Huntsman, huntsman, whither away. 

And what the game ye kill.^ 
Is it the deer, that men may dine? 
Is it the wolf that tears the kine? 
What is the race ye ride, ye ride. 

Ye ride by moor and hill? 

40 



HOPE THE HORN-BLOWER 41 

" Ask not yet till the day be dead 
What is the game that's forward fled. 
Ask not yet till the day be dead 

The game we follow still. 
An echo it may be, floating past; 
A shadow it may be, fading fast: 
Shadow or echo, we ride, we ride. 

We ride by moor and hill." 



O PULCHRITUDO 

O Saint whose thousand shrines our feet have 
trod 
And our eyes loved thy lamp's eternal 
beam^ 
Dim earthly radiance of the Unknown God, 
Hope of the darkness,, light of them that 
dream, 
Far off, far off and faint, O glimmer on 
Till we thy pilgrims from the road are gone. 

O Word whose meaning every sense hath 
sought. 
Voice of the teeming field and grassy 
mound. 
Deep-whispering fountain of the wells of 
thought. 
Will of the wind and soul of all sweet 
sound. 
Far off, far off and faint, O murmur on 
Till we thy pilgrims from the road are gone. 

42 



IN JULY 

His beauty bore no token. 

No sign our gladness shook; 
With tender strength unbroken 

The hand of Life he took: 
But the summer flowers were falling. 

Falling and fading away. 
And mother birds were calling. 
Crying and calling 

For their loves that would not stay. 

He knew not Autumn's chillness. 

Nor Winter's wind nor Spring's; 
He lived with Summer's stillness 

And sun and sunlit things: 
But when the dusk was falling 

He went the shadowy way. 
And one more heart is calling. 
Crying and calling 

For the love that would not stay. 

43 



FROM GENERATION TO 
GENERATION 

O SON of mine, when dusk shall find thee 
bending 
Between a gravestone and a cradle's head — 
Between the love whose name is loss unend- 
ing 
And the young love whose thoughts are 
liker dread, — 
Thou too shalt groan at heart that all thy 
spending 
Can not repay the dead, the hungry dead. 



44 



WHEN I REMEMBER 

When I remember that the day will come 
For this our love to quit his land of 

birth, 
And bid farewell to all the ways of 
earth 
With lips that must for evermore be dumb. 

Then creep I silent from the stirring hum. 
And shut away the music and the mirth, 
And reckon up what may be left of 
worth 
When hearts are cold and love's own body 
numb. 

Something there must be that I know not 

here. 
Or know too dimly through the symbol 

dear; 

45 



46 WHEN I REMEMBER 

Some touchy some beauty^ only guessed by 
this — 
If He that made us loves, it shall replace, 
Beloved, even the vision of thy face 

And deep communion of thine inmost 
kiss. 



RONDEL^ 

Though I wander far-off ways. 
Dearest, never doubt thou me: 

Mine is not the love that strays, 
Though I wander far-off ways: 

Faithfully for all my days 
I have vowed myself to thee: 

Though I wander far-off ways. 
Dearest, never doubt thou me. 



1 This and the two following pieces are from the 
French of Wenceslas, Duke of Brabant and Luxem- 
bourg, who died in 1384. 

* 47 



RONDEL 

Long ago to thee I gave 
Body, soul, and all I have — 
Nothing in the world I keep: 

All that in return I crave 
Is that thou accept the slave 
Long ago to thee I gave — 
Body, soul, and all I have. 

Had I more to share or save, 
I would give as give the brave. 

Stooping not to part the heap; 
Long ago to thee I gave 
Body, soul, and all I have — 

Nothing in the world I keep. 



48 



BALADE 

I CAN not tell, of twain beneath this bond, 
Which one in grief the other goes be- 
yond, — 
Narcissus, who to end the pain he bore 
Died of the love that could not help him 

more; 
Or I, that pine because I can not see 
The lady who is queen and love to me. 

Nay — for Narcissus, in the forest pond 
Seeing his image, made entreaty fond, 
** Beloved, comfort on my longing pour " : 
So for a while he soothed his passion sore; 
So can not I, for all too far is she — 
The lady who is queen and love to me. 

But since that I have Love's true colors 

donned, 
I in his service will not now despond, 

49 



50 BALADE 

For in extremes Love yet can all restore: 
So till her beauty walks the world no more 
All day remembered in my hope shall be 
The lady who is queen and love to me. 



THE VIKING'S SONG 

When I thy lover first 

Shook out my canvas free 

And like a pirate burst 
Into that dreaming sea. 

The land knew no such thirst 
As then tormented me. 

Now when at eve returned 
I near that shore divine, 

Where once but watch-fires burned 
I see thy beacon shine. 

And know the land hath learned 
Desire that welcomes mine. 



51 



THE SUFI IN THE CITY 

I. 

When late I watched the arrows of the 

sleet 
Against the windows of the Tavern beat, 
I heard a Rose that murmured from her 

Pot: 
** Why trudge thy fellows yonder in the 

Street ? 



II. 

" Before the phantom of False morning dies, 

Choked in the bitter Net that binds the 

skies. 

Their feet, bemired with Yesterday, set 

out 

For the dark alleys where To-morrow lies. 

52 



THE SUFI IN THE CITY 53 



III. 



" Think you, when all their petals they have 

bruised, 
And all the fragrances of Life confused 
That Night with sweeter rest will comfort 
these 
Than us, who still within the Garden mused? 



IV. 

" Think you the Gold they fight for all day 

long 
Is worth the frugal Peace their clamors 

wrong ? 
Their Titles, and the Name they toil to 

build— 
Will they outlast the echoes of our Song ? " 



V. 

O Sons of Omar, what shall be the close 
Seek not to know, for no man living 
knows : 



54 THE SUFI IN THE CITY 

But while within your hands the Wine is 
set 
Drink ye — to Omar and the Dreaming 
Rose ! 



YATTENDON 

Among the woods and tillage 

That fringe the topmost downs. 
All lonely lies the village, 

Far off from seas and towns. 
Yet when her own folk slumbered 

I heard within her street 
Murmur of men unnumbered 

And march of myriad feet. 

For all she lies so lonely, 

Far off from towns and seas. 
The village holds not only 

The roofs beneath her trees: 
While Life is sweet and tragic 

And Death is veiled and dumb. 
Hither, by singer's magic. 

The pilgrim world must come. 
55 



AMONG THE TOMBS 

She is a lady fair and wise, 

Her heart her counsel keeps, 
And well she knows of time that flies 

And tide that onward sweeps; 
But still she sits with restless eyes 

Where Memory sleeps — 

Where Memory sleeps. 

Ye that have heard the whispering dead 

In every wind that creeps_, 
Or felt the stir that strains the lead 

Beneath the mounded heaps. 
Tread softly, ah! more softly tread 

Where Memory sleeps — 

Where Memory sleeps. 



56 



A SOWER 

With sanguine looks 
And rolling walk 

Among the rooks 
He loved to stalky 

While on the land 
With gusty laugh 

From a full hand 
He scattered chaff. 

Now that within 
His spirit sleeps 

A harvest thin 
The sickle reaps; 

But the dumb fields 
Desire his tread. 

And no earth yields 
A wheat more red. 
57 



THE BEST SCHOOL OF ALL 

It's good to see the School we knew, 

The land of youth and dream, 
To greet again the rule we knew 

Before we took the stream: 
Though long we've missed the sight of her, 

Our hearts may not forget; 
We've lost the old delight of her. 

We keep her honor yet. 

We'll honor yet the School we knerv. 

The best School of all: 
We'll honor yet the rule we knew. 

Till the last bell call. 
For, working days or holidays. 
And glad or melancholy days. 
They were great days and jolly days 

At the best School of all. 
58 



THE BEST SCHOOL OF ALL 59 

The stars and sounding vanities 

That half the crowd bewitch^ 
What are they but inanities 

To him that treads the pitch? 
And where's the wealthy I'm wondering. 

Could buy the cheers that roll 
When the last charge goes thundering 

Beneath the twilight goal? 



The men that tanned the hide of us, 

Our daily foes and friends, 
They shall not lose their pride of us 

Howe'er the journey ends. 
Their voice, to us who sing of it. 

No more its message bears. 
But the round world shall ring of it 

And all we are be theirs. 



To speak of Fame a venture is. 
There's little here can bide, 

But we may face the centuries, 
And dare the deepening tide: 



60 THE BEST SCHOOL OF ALL 

For though the dust that's part of us 

To dust again be gone. 
Yet here shall beat the heart of us — 

The School we handed on! 

We'll honor yet the School we knew. 

The hest School of all: 
We'll honor yet the rule we knew. 

Till the last bell call. 
For, working days or holidays. 
And glad or melancholy days. 
They were great days and jolly days 

At the hest School of all. 



THE BRIGHT "MEDUSA" 

1807 

She's the daughter of the breeze, 
She's the darling of the seas. 

And we call her, if you please, the 
bright Medu — sa; 
From beneath her bosom bare 
To the snakes among her hair 

She's a flash o' golden light, the bright 
Medu — sa. 

When the ensign dips above 
And the guns are all for love. 

She's as gentle as a dove, the bright 
Medu — sa ; 
But when the shot's in rack 
And her forestay flies the Jack, 

He's a merry man would slight the 
bright Medu — sa. 
61 



62 THE BRIGHT "MEDUSA" 

When she got the word to go 
Up to Monte Video, 

There she found the river low, the bright 
Medu — sa ; 
So she tumbled out her guns 
And a hundred of her sons. 

And she taught the Dons to fight the 
bright Medu — sa. 



When the foeman can be found 
With the pluck to cross her ground, 

First she walks him round and round, 
the bright Medu — sa; 
Then she rakes him fore and aft 
Till he's just a jolly raft. 

And she grabs him like a kite, the bright 
Medu — sa. 



She's the daughter of the breeze. 
She's the darling of the seas. 

And you'll call her, if you please, the 
bright Medu — sa; 



THE BRIGHT "MEDUSA" 63 

For till England's sun be set — 
And it's not for setting yet — 

She shall bear her name by right, the 
bright Medu — sa. 

5 



NORTHUMBERLAND 

" The Old and Bold." 

When England sets her banner forth 

And bids her armor shine, 
She'll not forget the famous North, 

The lads of moor and Tyne; 
And when the loving-cup's in hand 

And Honor leads the cry, 
They know not old Northumberland 

Who'll pass her memory by. 

When Nelson sailed for Trafalgar 

With all his country's best. 
He held them dear as brothers are. 

But one beyond the rest. 
For when the fleet with heroes manned 

To clear the decks began. 
The boast of old Northumberland 

He sent to lead the van. 

64 



NORTHUMBERLAND 65 

Himself by Victory's bulwark stood 

And cheered to see the sight; 
" That noble fellow Collingwood^ 

How bold he goes to fight ! " 
Love, that the league of Ocean spanned. 

Heard him as face to face; 
" What would he give, Northumberland,, 

To share our pride of place ? " 

The flag that goes the world around 

And flaps on every breeze 
Has never gladdened fairer ground 

Or kinder hearts than these. 
So when the loving-cup's in hand 

And Honor leads the cry, 
They know not old Northumberland 

Who'll pass her memory by. 



MASTER AND MAN 

Do ye ken hoo to fush for the salmon? 

If ye'll listen I'll tell ye. 
Dinna trust to the books and their gammon, 

They're but tryin' to sell ye. 
Leave professors to read their ain cackle 

And fush their ain style; 
Come awa', sir, we'll oot wi* oor tackle 

And be busy the while. 

'Tis a wee bit ower bright, ye were thinkin'.'' 

Aw, ye'll no be the loser; 
'Tis better ten baskin' and blinkin' 

Than ane that's a cruiser. 
If ye're bent, as I tak it, on slatter, 

Ye should pray for the droot. 
For the salmon's her ain when there's watter, 

But she's oors when it's oot. 

66 

;Lofc.- 



MASTER AND MAN 67 

Ye may just put your flee-book behind ye, 

Ane hook wuU be plenty; 
If they'll no come for this, my man, mind ye. 

They'll no come for twenty. 
Ay, a rod; but the shorter the stranger 

And the nearer to strike; 
For myself I prefare it nae langer 

Than a yard or the like. 



Noo, ye'U stand awa' back while I'm creepin' 

Wi' my snoot i' the gowans; 
There's a bonny twalve-poonder a-sleepin' 

I' the shade o' yon rowans. 
Man, man! I was fearin' I'd stirred her. 

But I've got her the noo! 
Hoot! fushin's as easy as murrder 

When ye ken what to do. 



Na, na, sir, I doot na ye're willin'. 

But I canna permit ye; 
For I'm thinkin' that yon kind o' killin' 

Wad hardly befit ye. 



68 MASTER AND MAN 

And some work is deefficult hushin', 
There'd be havers and chaff: 

'TwuU be best^ sir^ for you to be fushin' 
And me wi' the gaff. 



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